Twenty-one

Twenty-one

DESI

Something slips out of my fingers before warm knuckles caress my cheek. A low, sexy voice breathes against my ear. "Hey, we got to get ready if you still want to sled."

My eyes flutter open and I look around my room. Jace sits next to my hip, wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt and a beanie on his head. My gaze lands on his black joggers, then follow his legs down to his running shoes. He flips over the book I fell asleep reading and reads the description. "A haunted hotel and two brooding, handsome twin brother spirits. What more could a girl want?"

My face flushes and I snatch the book from his hand and fling it over to the other side of the bed. "You are nosy," I say in a gravelly voice. My eyes run over his form one more time. "Besides, you totally left me hanging last night. I had to take the edge off somehow." My tone is teasing, but the wink I give him is less silly than it is seductive.

"I'll make that up to you today with some cold weather and hot cocoa, but you have to get moving." He places a soft kiss on my lips and stands. "And you wouldn't be so grouchy if you hadn't stayed up late reading about beefy twins getting frisky with a hotel owner."

I grab a pillow from behind me and throw it at him, but he's too quick, slipping out the door before it reaches him.

With a whiny groan, I roll out of bed and jump in the shower. I twist my curls into two long braids that fall over my shoulders before digging through my closet to find a pair of thick ski pants that Glen insisted I buy when I decided to stay in Denver. Before I put them on, I layer them with a one-piece set of long underwear. I add a parka, waterproof boots, gloves, and a scarf. A quick look in the mirror reveals that I bear an uncanny resemblance to an egg.

"I'm ready," I announce, tugging a green stocking cap onto my head as I waddle into the kitchen under all my layers.

Jace is leaning against the island with a bottle of water in his hands. He unscrews the top and brings the bottle to his mouth. "You look . . . warm," he says, covering his smile by taking a sip.

He has added a jacket to his athletic ensemble and changed into snow boots. The fingers of a black glove hang out of his pocket. He doesn't look that different from when he goes running in the morning.

"Is it too much?" I ask, looking down at myself and gesturing to my pants and parka. "Should I ditch the snow pants?"

He sets down his drink and walks over to me. Helping me out of my jacket, he says, "We'll be in the car or moving, you won't get that cold. Did you get some fleece-lined leggings?" I nod and he continues, "Those will be better for this trip. The snow is solid where we're going, and it's a clear day. I promise we won't be in a blizzard."

Jace kneels before me to remove my boots and reaches for the waist of the bulky pants. He pulls them down and chuckles at the thermal onesie. Reaching around me, he feels for something just above my ass. When he comes up empty, he laughs. "At least you didn't get the kind with the drop seat in the pants."

I cock my head to the side and look down at him. "Ha-ha. You're hilarious. In case you didn't notice, we don't exactly have snow in Infernis, so I was just going by what I've seen in the human movies I've watched. Apparently, they're a little extra when it comes to wardrobe," I say as he gives the globes of my ass a playful swat. "I—" My words catch in my throat as he stands in front of me and traces the top button on the long johns before making his way down the center of my chest.

"The truth about everything is less is more." He pulls the fabric off my shoulder and kisses the exposed skin. "And the same goes for snow gear. If you wear too much, you sweat." The top of the onesie falls away, leaving me shirtless from the waist up. "Sweat cools the body. And when it's cold outside, the last thing you want is moisture eventually freezing." He cups my breasts, pulls down the thin fabric of my bralette, and lifts a peak to his mouth. After lapping at the now-hardened nipple, he says, "But there are other activities where sweat is very appropriate."

I gasp and lift my hand, gripping the back of his neck. "Oh, how fascinating," I manage as he kneels and slides the onesie a little farther down, exposing my lower abdomen and the black thong I chose this morning in the hopes he'd end up seeing it. "And what activities would those be?" I brace myself with a hand on his shoulder as he helps me step out of the garment that was already damp in places that would likely have been uncomfortable for the rest of the day.

He draws a wet trail with his tongue that starts at the waist of my panties and swirls around my navel. "The kind that will make us miss out on sledding."

I bite my lip and fight a battle in my head. I've never been sledding before, and doing that with Jace sounds like a lot of fun. On the other hand, his tongue on my skin is too tempting to resist. But he planned this day for us, and I don't want to derail it. There will be time for this later.

"Okay, okay," I say, tugging on his hair. "No more licking. Let me go get dressed."

"No more licking." He kisses the lace covering my center and stands. "Hurry before I change my mind."

I run up the stairs and tear through my clothes. I find my winter leggings and put on a tight long-sleeved shirt. Grabbing a puffer jacket, I return to the kitchen.

"Better?" I ask, holding out my arms and spinning around.

"Much. And I can see all those sexy curves now. Throw on your boots and let's get out of here."

After driving for forty-five minutes, we pull off onto a crude road in the middle of nowhere, and his SUV cruises over every bump. Snow covers the pine tree branches, and the sun beams down on an ivory blanket, making it look like a million diamonds on the ground.

We park on the side of the road next to several other cars. Children with sleds and snowboards zip down the sides of what appears to be a huge white bowl. Parents stand at the bottom with their phones out, capturing every moment. On the far side of the basin is a log cabin with smoke billowing from the chimney and people walking out with steaming cups in their hands.

"What is this place?" I ask.

Jace opens the back door to his SUV and pulls out the two sleds we brought from his garage. "It's private land. The owners were ski instructors at the top resorts for years. When they had grandkids, they wanted a safe place for them to learn snow sports. It's the perfect place for a beginner."

He picks up one sled and passes me the other, then holds out his hand to me.

I thread my fingers with his and say, "That's amazing. How did you know about it? It's way out here in the middle of nowhere."

His eyes scan the area, and I can tell the memory is bittersweet. "My dad used to bring me out here every year on the first good snowfall of the winter. It didn't matter if it was a school day. We dropped everything, it was just him and me. As I got older and had friends who wanted to learn to ski or snowboard, we'd head out here."

"I can't imagine how much you miss him," I say as we walk to the edge of the hill. "Besides Mandis, my dad was my best friend growing up."

"Yeah, he was the best," Jace says, and I can tell by the way he says it that he wants to change the subject.

I grip his hand tighter, and we both look over the ledge. The hill isn't the biggest one on the property by any means, but I've never gone sailing down a slope on a contraption made of wood and metal before, and I'm a little terrified. This just doesn't look safe; not that I'm the most careful being in the three realms or anything, but this seems purposely reckless.

The sled in my hand suddenly feels like lead instead of wood. I drop it to the snow and look at Jace with wide eyes. "I don't think I can do this."

"What do you mean you can't do it? You literally just sit down and slide."

I shake my head, staring down at the bottom of the bowl. Little kids jump off their sleds when they reach the end of their ride, cheering and running up for another go. But up here on top of what may as well be the new Mount Everest, I don't think I can do it.

I turn around at the crunching of snow and creaking of wood. Jace sits at the back of the sled holding out his hand to me. "Jump on, we'll go together."

With a deep breath, I nod and tuck our other sled safely under a nearby tree then settle in front of him. "Are you sure this is okay, us both being on here like this? I'm a lot heavier than these little kids." I say, my heart beating faster as he wraps his arms around my waist.

Jace scoffs and tightens his grip on me, moving my hair away from my neck. He plants a kiss on my spine and whispers, "Please, Desi. I could toss you around my bedroom without even breaking a sweat."

My lips part and I think I'll combust when I can't press my thighs together, but my misery is short lived because he takes that opportunity while I'm distracted to release me and press a palm to the ground, pushing us forward.

I scream as we fly down the hill, and Jace laughs as he holds me tight. The chilly wind whips at my face, and my stomach plummets. It's as if my entire life flashes before my eyes. At the same time, the thrill of the ride doesn't last long enough. We scoot along the flat ground, and Jace digs his heels into the snow to stop us.

Looking around my shoulder at my face, he asks, "How you doing, princess?"

I laugh and lean back against him, resting my head on his shoulder and looking up into his twinkling gray eyes. "Fantastic! Let's do it again!"

We run up the hill and slide back down at least a dozen times. Jace tries to get me to ride down by myself, but I refuse. I enjoy him wrapped around me as we laugh and scream. Parents waiting for their children at the bottom of the bowl are amused by us, but I don't care. His proximity is worth all the pointing and giggling.

By the end of our sledding adventure my leggings are soaked with melting snow and my teeth are chattering. Jace gathers our sleds and carries them to the SUV. He starts the vehicle and cranks up the heat before loading everything in the back.

Sliding behind the wheel, he asks, "Are you hungry?"

"Starved." I lift my sunglasses from my face and prop them on the top of my stocking cap. "Is there anywhere on the way home that we can get a hot bowl of soup?"

"Sure," he says, pulling his visor down and looking in the mirror. "Oh, I didn't put enough sunscreen on. I got a windburn."

My brows pull together. "Windburn? What the hell is that? Like a sunburn?"

He glances over at me, studying my face, his mouth twisted into a confused grimace. "Kinda. It's when the wind sort of chaps your skin—" He cuts himself off and reaches over to grip my chin, turning my face toward him so he can see me better. "How did you dodge the burn? Did you put on sunscreen this morning?"

I shake my head. "No. I've never worn sunscreen or taken medication in my life. I'm immortal, remember? Demons, and angels for that matter, don't get sick or suffer any kind of human ailment. That includes sunburns, windburns, acne, colds, anything like that."

"So you admit that you're always perfect. Humble."

"Shut up," I mumble. "I'm not perfect and you know it."

"Obviously. You get grouchy after staying up late reading sexy ghost books," he says with a snicker as he pulls onto the crude road.

I shoot him a glare and cross my arms over my chest. "And don't forget I'm hungry, so that probably isn't helping matters."

"So, you get cranky from not enough sleep and not enough food," he teases. "Maybe you aren't so perfect after all."

"Oh? Tell me, what else is wrong with me?" I ask, turning in my seat and giving him a smirk.

"You won't sled down a hill by yourself. You put the cups away upside down. You're known for sneaking into other people's tubs and taking a bath without permission. You're a bold exhibitionist who lures good boys down to hell to meet your demon family. And you thought I could help you find an eternal partner?"

The twinkle in his gray eyes tells me he's teasing, so I fire back at him. "Okay, first of all, in Infernis, there is no such thing as sledding, so I was a little scared, I can admit it. Second, I already explained why I put the cups away upside down at least fifty times. It makes perfect sense. Third, you're the only man whose bathtub I've ever snuck into, thank you very much. And as far as boys I've lured . . ." I slide my hand onto his leg and up his thigh until my fingers are nearly brushing the center of his pants. "Last I checked, I've only lured one boy anywhere, and that, sir, was you."

"Desideria." My name is a breathy warning on his tongue. He pulls my hand away and brings my knuckles to his lips, kissing them before placing my hand in my lap. "You don't know how flattered I am that you can't keep your hands off me, but the car isn't exactly my safe space."

I gasp and cover my mouth with my palm, turning so I can see his face. "Oh, Jace. I'm so sorry. I didn't even think of that." Swiveling in my seat, I press my forehead to the leather and pound it gently in a repetitive motion. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," I mutter, closing my eyes.

His hands remain on the wheel, but he glances at me from the corner of his eye for a split second. "Hey, don't do that. I'm not upset with you. But I do need you to turn around in your seat, so I know you're safe. I wouldn't fare too well if anything ever happened to you."

I can't argue with that, so I flop over in the seat and face forward. "Ugh, you know I'm not normally inconsiderate. I just—you make me lose control," I say, sliding down a bit and covering my face with my hands. "There are times—a lot of times—when all I can think about is you. And not just—" I take a deep breath and pause before I say anything else. Maybe I shouldn't say anything else. Maybe what I have to say will freak Jace out, and I don't want to push him away. Not when we've grown so close.

"Not just what?" he asks, and I realize I've stayed silent for too long, and now I have no choice but to say what I'm thinking.

"Not just what you do to me with your hands and your mouth," I say tentatively, bracing myself for his reaction. "I just like spending time with you. However I can get it."

The seconds tick by and I'm scared out of my mind that I've blown it. My mouth opens to begin an Olympic-sized routine of back-pedaling when he says, "Well, isn't this awkward?"

Fuck!

"A woman actually enjoys my company. I have to admit that I thought the cartoon T-shirts and the hours with a controller in my hand were some kind of lady repellant. It turns out that you, little hurricane, are attracted to nerds. Looks like you have another flaw."

The smirk he fights back is so charming. It might be the reason I can't keep my hands off him.

"You know I enjoy spending time with you too. You just might be one of my favorite beings," he says.

The relief I feel is immeasurable, but I can't let him see how nervous I was. So I just keep up the teasing. "One of? Who's your favorite being?"

"This is a hard one. It's a toss-up, obviously, between Luke Skywalker, Spider-Man, and Glen."

I'm not surprised that I'm competing against two fictional characters, but my brother-in-law?

"Glen?!"I exclaim. "Are you for real right now? Glen is above me on the list of favorite beings?!"

Jace turns a hand over on the steering wheel and flicks his fingers in a what can I say gesture. "I know what you're thinking. He tried to convince me that our handshake was about ice cream when it was really about blow jobs, but I'll give him a pass on that. He enjoys giving them and I enjoy receiving them."

I nod and purse my lips, and without taking my eyes off the passing scenery, I say, "Good to know. Maybe you can ask him for one next time you've got a hard-on. Ya know, since he's your favorite and all."

Jace makes a sound like what I said hurt. "You know. On second thought, Glen has sharp teeth. I've just promoted you to the toss-up list. Congrats."

I fling my hair over my shoulder and look at him from the corner of my eye. "Good boy. Now, where's my soup?"

"Don't worry. I know how you demons get when you're hungry. We're almost there."

Jace pulls into the parking lot of a little hole-in-the-wall café. The outside of the building is questionable—the cold winters have done a number on the teal paint around the windows and on the eaves. But as soon as he pulls open the glass door I'm hit with the scent of savory spices and fresh bread. The host leads us to a candlelit table near the corner and hands us menus.

When I can't decide between two different soups, Jace orders them both for me and two more for himself. We sit across from each other laughing and dipping our spoons between the bowls. He continues to tease me about not being able to sled alone, and I let him poke fun at me, adding my own jabs about his windburn, which makes him look like an inverted raccoon. We find ourselves in a hysterical fit of laughter more than once.

But about halfway through our meal, all that happiness fades when he looks over my shoulder. His eyes go wide and all the color drains from his face like he sees a ghost. I spin around in my chair.

A woman I've seen only once before stands behind me, staring back at him. Her blond hair falls over her shoulders in beautiful straight strands, and her blue eyes are shining with surprise. Her red lips pull into a faint smile before she says in a rich, soft voice, "Hello, Jace."

"Hey, Hannah."